TommyK
New LVC Member
I have a 1993 3.8 6cly its been diagnosed with a blown head gasket. Has anyone tried STEEL SEAL or BLUE DEVIL products as a fix it. Thanks for your time.
1993 3.8 Head gasket
- Thread starter TommyK
- Start date
3.8L SC engines had a bit of a problem with the heads. Every so often, they would move just enough to require a surface mill job...but they were aluminum. I would suggest a bit of research, to see if they need to be yanked.
MichiganTeddyBear
Dedicated LVC Member
never tried any of the sealing products to bandaid the headgaskets on the 3.8.
I call them a bandaid, because thats what it is, just a temporary repair. the ONLY way to fix a bad head gasket is replacement, and making sure the head is flat. As mentioned before, the heads are aluminum, and cast iron block, they expand at different rates when heating.
proper cooling system maintainance is key to longevity here.
Also, when replacing the head gaskets, make sure to use NEW head bolts, they are a stretch type bolt, and not re-usable.
I call them a bandaid, because thats what it is, just a temporary repair. the ONLY way to fix a bad head gasket is replacement, and making sure the head is flat. As mentioned before, the heads are aluminum, and cast iron block, they expand at different rates when heating.
proper cooling system maintainance is key to longevity here.
Also, when replacing the head gaskets, make sure to use NEW head bolts, they are a stretch type bolt, and not re-usable.
Frat-man-du
Dedicated LVC Member
I replaced the head gaskets on my 85 T-Bird's 3.8 at least 3 times (blew on the exhaust side each time). The last blow out got into the oil and ruined the bearings. I tried all kinds of gaskets, FORD, Mr Gasket, Felpro they all eventually leaked, even with new machined heads and deck the 2nd and third times. took about 130K the first time to go then evey 80K one side would leak. I flushed my antifreeze every 30K and used Mobil One synthetic oil every 3K so it had nothing to do with maintenance it is just a flaw in the 3.8 from the mid 80s to mid 90s. there was even a recall for awhile.
MichiganTeddyBear
Dedicated LVC Member
it wasn't as much of a design flaw, as an assembly technique flaw. Yea, they changed the style of gasket in later years to help, but they also revised the torque sequence and specs a few times too.
I dont think there was any real change to the block or heads either during all them times (other than some combustion chamber revisions for different applications).
either way, the only real fix is to change the gaskets. you may never have to change them again, or they may last 80-100k.
the cooling system maintainance item isn't so much as how many miles are on the coolant, but how long its been in. after about a year, it can start to get acidic, and cause problems. Also, the one thing that gets overlooked in most 3.8 equiped vehicles, is that the damn thing is hard as hell to get all the air out of. My cougar even had a special bleed/fill port installed on the intake to allow air out! Most of the cars have rad caps LOWER than the highest point of the system, so you car gonna play hell getting all the air out.
I dont think there was any real change to the block or heads either during all them times (other than some combustion chamber revisions for different applications).
either way, the only real fix is to change the gaskets. you may never have to change them again, or they may last 80-100k.
the cooling system maintainance item isn't so much as how many miles are on the coolant, but how long its been in. after about a year, it can start to get acidic, and cause problems. Also, the one thing that gets overlooked in most 3.8 equiped vehicles, is that the damn thing is hard as hell to get all the air out of. My cougar even had a special bleed/fill port installed on the intake to allow air out! Most of the cars have rad caps LOWER than the highest point of the system, so you car gonna play hell getting all the air out.
just replace the head gaskets ,this is a easy job because if you trust some cheap fix like that it will only come back and bite you in the end,your motor will only get worse and hydrolock and bend your rods if you are leaking coolant,this job can be done with air tools in 6 hours if you take your time and if you like to rush expect 3 hours
TommyK
New LVC Member
I got a quote of $800 to do the job, does that sound right?
MichiganTeddyBear
Dedicated LVC Member
well, parts for it at a retailer (chain store) run around a 100 bucks (thats gaskets and bolts), so the rest is of course labor.
if you can do it yourself, look at what your saving $$. if not, well, 800 is not actually a bad quote I have heard for the conti's headgaskets. I have heard people claim they were quoted over 1500 bucks.
do this, call a few other shops around your area and tell them what you have (93 conti, with blown head gaskets), and see what other quotes you get. then pick one, (dont need to be the lowest either), go there, get it in writing, and read it carefully. There ARE things that normally dont need to be changed when removing them, but can get busted, or end up not being re-usable in this job. make sure its spelled out what they are gonna cover, exactly for that price.
if you can do it yourself, look at what your saving $$. if not, well, 800 is not actually a bad quote I have heard for the conti's headgaskets. I have heard people claim they were quoted over 1500 bucks.
do this, call a few other shops around your area and tell them what you have (93 conti, with blown head gaskets), and see what other quotes you get. then pick one, (dont need to be the lowest either), go there, get it in writing, and read it carefully. There ARE things that normally dont need to be changed when removing them, but can get busted, or end up not being re-usable in this job. make sure its spelled out what they are gonna cover, exactly for that price.